Ten years ago, sci-fi movies featured television sets that could allow you to chat, access data with a push of a button and stream movies effortlessly. Today, that technology is in thousands of living rooms.

It’s clear that the future of television is here. However, a smart TV system is simply out of reach for many consumers because of the price; smart TV systems aren’t cheap.

Introducing Roku TV

Roku, a company best known for streaming players that can turn your basic set into a smart TV, has now added a series of full-blown smart TVs to its lineup. Roku has teamed up with Haier, Hisense, Insignia, Sharp and TLC, to create smart TVs with Roku technology at its core. These sets have all the bells and whistles of the more expensive brands, but at a price that’s surprisingly accessible for the average consumer.

Each set has 1920×1080 resolution, and the screen sizes run from 32” to 55”.  The sets come packed with dozens of apps, delivering 300,000 movies and television shows on more than 2000 channels. Roku TV lets you search by keyword, actor, title or director using the included Roku remote or the free Roku app on your smart phone. Experts call the Roku platform “one of the best cross-platform searches anywhere.” With Roku TV, you can personalize your home screen with your favorite broadcast and streaming channels, so you can get started with your must-see programming right away.

Challenges with Roku TV

The price and access of Roku TVs are hard to beat, but if you’re looking for a high-quality sound and exceptional picture quality, you might want to consider saving for a higher-tier smart TV. Roku TVs are missing picture and sound fine-tuning, and a hard-line Ethernet port, which means you’ll need to rely on Wi-Fi. For basic entry-level use, especially using the Roku TV set as a secondary system, these televisions have the perfect combination of price and function.

Roku TVs are available for purchase today, and retail from $300 to $500.

*Photo credit Roku